Weight carrying New Forest Ponies

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NeilM

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I recently had a comment made about the ability of my 14.2hh NF gelding to carry my (12.5 stone) weight.

We have been together for four years now, but the comment stuck in my mind a little, as it is a concern of mine and so I decided to contact his breeder.

She was pretty cross at the comments and made this statement "In the case of the New Forest pony they were bred to carry a stone per hand or a man to his work, and still do. Most of our Agisters in the Forest patrol their areas on New Forest ponies."

I thought it was worth posting these comments, as I often see 'can my pony carry me' posts with some replies that would lead the novice to wonder how any horse ever carries anybody over 10 stone :D

My new motto is; New Forest Ponies, Bred with passion, Ridden with pride.
 
Thanks,
That's the second time I,ve read that recently... :)

It's good to know, I've got a lot of friends wanting to ride Native ponies but say they are to big and need to be below 10st... (blah blah).

Just need to find me an freakishly large pony lol.
 
I show a new forest, he's forest bred and the proper sturdy type that would carry anyone all day.

I find it very disheartening that we are often placed below the finer, stud bred types that wouldn't survive a day out on the forest nor carry anyone for hours across it.

Loving the motto! Though I do wish some people who run their ponies on the forest would consider bringing in their less than ideal mares when the stallions are out for the couple weeks a year. I've seen some very poor put together mares in foal in my area and it's a shame as we all know where poor quality foals often end up :(
 
Diet2Ride: My NF is a very traditional build or, built like a brick outhouse; he is from the Brock herd so is a beefy lad. He has been mistaken for a Highland before now and I saw his doppelganger at Stoneleigh a couple of years ago on the Highland Pony Society stand (I wish I had written the pony's name down).

Alternatively, a Highland, or Welsh Sec D or a Fells or Dales, all were bred to carry weight.
 
I had a 13.3 new forest pony as a child (a niceley put together boy). He was a true family pony, I was 9 to 12 when I owned him and he also carried adults of 11 stone comfortably.

Never did anything to show he was uncomfortable. He could actually jump a 2ft 6 course carrying that weight...though was never asked to jump higher than that. He could jump 3ft 6 with me as a child on him.

I adored him. Parting with him was the hardest thing I had to do as a child. And I used to have dreams about buying him back......and still do!:o

He would be about 35 or so now, but I lost touch 20 years ago and so I assume he is no longer with us.

I WILL one day have another Forester. I am lucky as I have 3 kids aged 12 6 and 2 so the pony would have plenty to keep them busy....

*goes off to google forester adverts
 
I dont have a new forest but a 14.1 cob and when I got him I was 10.5st and 12st rode him too as did my OH 13stone effortlessly.
He was built like a tanker! Horse not OH!

I did look at other finer 14h and they looked like they would snap in half! So it depends on the horse too. Sounds ok to me and I was even looking at New Forest myself. So interesting.
 
NeilM said:
Diet2Ride: My NF is a very traditional build or, built like a brick outhouse; he is from the Brock herd so is a beefy lad. He has been mistaken for a Highland before now and I saw his doppelganger at Stoneleigh a couple of years ago on the Highland Pony Society stand (I wish I had written the pony's name down).QUOTE]

Just wanted to comment on your pony. I've got a Brock 4 year old who is so mature for her age judges always check her teeth as they don't believe how young she is! Also been mistaken for a halflinger. The Brocks all seem to be pretty beefy
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I used to have a NF 14.2 Silverlea line who used to carry a man hunting all day, they are great no fuss, healthy ponies. It does pee me off though when I see them showing and they have no bone or substance.
 
So a 12 hander could carry 12 stone and do a day's work? :eek: - I'm afraid I can't handle that 'fact'.

I want to know who did the maths regarding the skeleton and muscle structures to be able to emphatically state this particular rule of thumb, and also, is this over the lifespan of the pony, a season, all year round between the ages of say 5 and 15?

I suspect it's not based on how to make your pony last, but how to get your money's worth out of it. After all, they are ten a penny and growing between the trees, if not exactly on them...
 
brighteyes said:
So a 12 hander could carry 12 stone and do a day's work? :eek: - I'm afraid I can't handle that 'fact'.

I want to know who did the maths regarding the skeleton and muscle structures to be able to emphatically state this particular rule of thumb, and also, is this over the lifespan of the pony, a season, all year round between the ages of say 5 and 15?

I suspect it's not based on how to make your pony last, but how to get your money's worth out of it. After all, they are ten a penny and growing between the trees, if not exactly on them...
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I will not comment I'm too angry
 
my 12.2hh can carry nearly 10 stone. my vet said he would carry 10 stone easily (if anyone remembers my post)

i worried for ages about being to heavy for him at 9 stone. and turns out he can carry me easily. i now weight 8,5 stone and his 2 sharers weight 9.5 stone. he copes fine. he is a chunky monkey and for the next year, will continue. however as soon as hes ready to have a child, i will find him a lighter rider so he can progress his education.
 
my 13.3 welsh cob can carry a balanced 12.5 stone rider without so much as blinking.

depends on breeding and type i reckon.

a stone per hand sounds a bit much BUT if thats how they've been bred thats fine....the little welsh A's and shetlands were bred to carry blokes around all day werent they...
 
NeilM said:
I recently had a comment made about the ability of my 14.2hh NF gelding to carry my (12.5 stone) weight.

We have been together for four years now, but the comment stuck in my mind a little, as it is a concern of mine and so I decided to contact his breeder.

She was pretty cross at the comments and made this statement "In the case of the New Forest pony they were bred to carry a stone per hand or a man to his work, and still do. Most of our Agisters in the Forest patrol their areas on New Forest ponies."

I thought it was worth posting these comments, as I often see 'can my pony carry me' posts with some replies that would lead the novice to wonder how any horse ever carries anybody over 10 stone :D

My new motto is; New Forest Ponies, Bred with passion, Ridden with pride.
Click to expand...

I totally agree... a true forester is a tough cookie. I, too have heard that expression, and whats more, I believe it. People pansy their ponies too much imho.
 
I weigh just a couple of ginger nuts more than Neil, and our 14h NF (Royal Oak lines) is solid, and quite fit as my daughter does lots on him with Pony Club. Now all I do on him is mostly walk and trot with a bit of canter (because that's within my comfort zone - he's known for galloping off into the distance!) and he barely breaks into a sweat, but I'm quite sure he could carry on all day, so I do agree the stone per hand. However while I do think the stone per hand for a fit pony, it should be less for an unfit - and an awful lot of ponies you see are quite fat so they have extra weight of their own to carry, unfit and ridden once a week or less.

I'm careful to use a mounting block to get on, and I don't jump him as I know I'm not very good at jumping. Lots of people think he and I look fine and well suited, and I've not had the pony squishing comments yet. However if I wasn't as well balanced as I am (years of motorcycling) then perhaps folk would realise how much I actually weigh....
 
Carlosmum said:
I will not comment I'm too angry
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Don't mind me, and feel free.

I am merely pointing out that it's very much a throwaway industry. Not, I hasten to add, amongst the proper breeders who will do their best to continue the correct and traditional lines and all they represent, but the people who come across statement like 'NF ponies - can carry 1 stone per hand' and off they go... They are the sort to go through pony after pony and can do this because they are almost ten a penny. You beg to differ on that? Anyone can afford to buy one!

Is there anyone on here WOULD sell a 12 hander to a 12 stone person knowing full well they were going to be its only rider??? :confused:
 
NeilM said:
I recently had a comment made about the ability of my 14.2hh NF gelding to carry my (12.5 stone) weight.

We have been together for four years now, but the comment stuck in my mind a little, as it is a concern of mine and so I decided to contact his breeder.

She was pretty cross at the comments and made this statement "In the case of the New Forest pony they were bred to carry a stone per hand or a man to his work, and still do. Most of our Agisters in the Forest patrol their areas on New Forest ponies."

I thought it was worth posting these comments, as I often see 'can my pony carry me' posts with some replies that would lead the novice to wonder how any horse ever carries anybody over 10 stone :D

My new motto is; New Forest Ponies, Bred with passion, Ridden by a beanpole :D
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I took the liberty of pointing out a couple of things - well one thing - and altering the other :)



crocodile50 person - please kick me via PM ;)
 
brighteyes said:
Don't mind me, and feel free.

I am merely pointing out that it's very much a throwaway industry. Not, I hasten to add, amongst the proper breeders who will do their best to continue the correct and traditional lines and all they represent, but the people who come across statement like 'NF ponies - can carry 1 stone per hand' and off they go... They are the sort to go through pony after pony and can do this because they are almost ten a penny. You beg to differ on that? Anyone can afford to buy one!

Is there anyone on here WOULD sell a 12 hander to a 12 stone person knowing full well they were going to be its only rider??? :confused:
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Can I reiterate that this comment was made to me by the breeder of my 10 year old NF gelding, who is always delighted to get updates on one of her ponies. I will also repeat myself, my gelding is from the Brock herd, which is still in the same family that established it back in the 1860's.

How do you know I'm a beanpole....you're not stalking me are you?
 
NeilM said:
Can I reiterate that this comment was made to me by the breeder of my 10 year old NF gelding, who is always delighted to get updates on one of her ponies. I will also repeat myself, my gelding is from the Brock herd, which is still in the same family that established it back in the 1860's.

How do you know I'm a beanpole....you're not stalking me are you?
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That's me rumbled! :D
 
alligator40 said:
crocodile50 person - please kick me via PM ;)

as you know, mrs, i adore the newfie as a breed..it is very underated as a childs/adults pony.

and yes, they are very hardy souls..i know of a few grown men who ride them..between 12hh and 14hh..on the Drifts...there is even a class at the NF Breed Show that states the rider is 13.5 stone minimum.

Brock breed excellent "heavyweight" types and if anyone on here has seen Buckland Cruiser in the flesh he wouldn't look out of place at the RAS in a Charolais class!!..all 13.3 of him!!
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Holy bugger to all of that :eek: I think you are actually haggis36 from Aberdeen and are confused with Highlands - cattle or ponies, it matters not.

For the 13.5 stone plus class do they have scales at the ringside for the borderline-looking peeps? =8-O I wouldn't want to judge THAT class!
 
Yes they do have scales at the show for weighing people before hand.

I do agree somewhat with the person who said the 12.2 might not be able to carry 12 stone as some of the smaller ponies are finer built than the bigger ones.

This is my weight carrying new forest he is 13.2 and very chunky build with short cannons and lots of bone and a big barrel. I am not heavy but he was back by a 6ft man and my friend who is 11 stone has ridden him with ease.

spride.jpg


Also new forests are not all cheap ponies now, there are plenty of more established competitive or family all rounders New Forest fetching plenty of money. They are a hidden treasure I think.
 
Ours quite happily carries 14 stone. She is full up 14.2hh,and has more bone than our 16.2hhs!
People forget that native ponies were bred to take men all day, and often carry heavy loads too.
So1, ours is similar in stature to yours and bred by Shirley Young from the Farriers stud. We call her a "chunky monkey"!!
 
Neilm, Hopefully your foaly will be as wonderful as your other one and ours- so far. Ours was a gift horse, as her owner no longer wanted her. She is rising 11 now, and we have only just backed her! She is a total star though, and has taken everything in her stride, and relishes the work after so many years sat in a field doing nothing! Has a super temperment, and loves my teenager and her friends making lots of fuss of her!
 
Spottyappy: I should have said my gelding was one of Shirley's foals, about 9 years ago :D

He's now 10 and like so many other foresters, he's a beefy boy and is affectionately known as the 'fat lad', but never within earshot, as he'd be mortally offended.

We also have an 18 year old mare from the Yew Tree line, she couldn't be more different, and despite her excellent NF lineage, she looks more like a sporting pony than a NF, and we believe she did some P2P in her distant youth.

Oh Lordy, this looks to be turning into a NF enthusiasts thread....shame :D
 
My pony's dam is Yewtree Homeward - he is not a sporty looking type but he has a turn of speed on him - he has a lot of "Slipper" in his pedigree and apparently Slipper was one of good new forest point to point ponies.

Today we were out on a sponsored ride and he was having no trouble keeping up with my friends 17.2 Irish Draft - we were cantering fast up a hill and she was most surprised to turn round and see us right behind! I was actually surprised too I did not realise how fast he could go if he wanted to!

NeilM said:
We also have an 18 year old mare from the Yew Tree line, she couldn't be more different, and despite her excellent NF lineage, she looks more like a sporting pony than a NF, and we believe she did some P2P in her distant youth.
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SO1 said:
Today we were out on a sponsored ride and he was having no trouble keeping up with my friends 17.2 Irish Draft - we were cantering fast up a hill and she was most surprised to turn round and see us right behind! I was actually surprised too I did not realise how fast he could go if he wanted to!
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Ha ha ha, I think that is the Forester sense of humour; my lad will do the same thing. At Badminton sponsored ride the year before last, we were past by a little group on some fine looking horses, including a girl on a slightly 'flighty' 17hh plus hunter. We were still a few yards from a corner when she took off up a decent hill at a fair old clip, H and I caught her about half way up and he cruised alongside to the top. The rider was pretty impressed, she would have been even more impressed if she has seen the speed we took the 90 degree right hand turn at the bottom of the rise!
 
Back to the OP - I think in part it is because people do not understand conformation properly. They presume unless your horse looks like a shire or giant shetland then it is not strong and that anyone over 11 stone needs to ride one!

Arabs are an example of a very strong breed but they do not look like it - they too have wide barrels and dense bone.
 
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